This document summarizes a study that evaluated the effects of feeding different levels of sun-dried neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on the growth performance and economics of production in weaner rabbits. Thirty rabbits were divided into 5 groups and each group was fed one of 5 iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric diets containing either 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% neem leaf meal. Results showed significant differences in final weight and daily weight gain across treatment groups, with the control group having the highest final weight and daily gain. Daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, daily protein intake, and protein efficiency ratio were similar across treatments. Including neem leaf meal

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American Research Journal of Humanities Social Science (ARJHSS)
E-ISSN: 2378-702X
Volume-04, Issue-06, pp-40-45
www.arjhss.com
Research Paper Open Access
EFFECT OF FEEDING SUN-DRIED NEEM (Azadirachta indica)
LEAF MEAL ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND
ECONOMIC OF PRODUCTION OF WEANER RABBITS
*AYUBA, F1
, Ayoade, J. A1
, Orayaga, K. T2
, Emmanuel, S. S1
1.Department of Animal Production, College of Animal Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi,
Benue State, Nigeria. +2348055854990
2. Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi,
Benue State, Nigeria.
Abstract: A twelve week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of Neem leaf meal (NLM) on
growth performance and economic of weaner rabbits. Five treatment diets were formulated with (T1) 0%NLM,
(T2)5%NLM, (T3)10%NLM, (T4)15%NLM, (T5)20%NLM.Thirty mixed breed of both sexes weighing 477.00-
478.30g were divided into 5 groups of 6 replicates per group and each randomly assigned to the 5treatment diets
in a completely randomized design. Results of the leaf meal for proximate composition showed that NLM had
96.04% Dry matter, 41.13 % NFE, 23.96% CP, 14.69%Fat, 7.61% CF, and 7.49% ash, Amino acid profile
showed all nutrient present with Glutamic acid (22.56) highest value and Nor-leucine completely absent. Results
obtained also revealed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in final weight and daily weight gain
across the treatment groups while daily feed intake, FCR, daily protein intake and protein efficiency ratio were
similar (P>0.05) across treatment means. Feed cost reduced as the inclusion of the NLM increases in the diets,
while cost per unit weight gain was negatively affected by the inclusion of the NLM. It was therefore concluded
that neem leaf meal affected performance negatively but not risky to the health of rabbits, and recommended
that inclusion of neem leaf meal up to 15% in the diets of rabbits can improve rabbit production and save cost
for farmer.
Keywords: Neem leaf, rabbit, growth performance, economic of production.
I. Introduction
In most developing countries, the livestock industry keeps having difficult in supplying the much
needed animal protein to the populace. This has largely been due to the high cost of livestock feeds. Generally,
livestock play important roles in the nation’s socio-economic development and contribute towards household
food and nutritional security (Okeke and Akubukor, 2014). Rabbit production is still a new enterprise and
mainly a small-holder system that has advantages over the other livestock system, because of the small rabbit’s
body size, high rate of reproduction, adaptability to inexpensive housing and useful by-products (Owen et al.,
1977). Inadequate food production is a critical problem throughout Africa and rabbit farming could make a
significant contribution to human welfare in developing countries with inadequate food production (Owen et al.,
1977). Currently, most farmers focus on small livestock like poultry, swine, cavies (i.e guinea pigs) and rabbits;
in response to the unfortunate situation.
Livestock production generally is affected by inadequate and high cost of feed ingredients brought
about mainly by the stiff competition between man and animal for grains and oil seeds (Agunbiade et al., 2002).
Cost of livestock feed is high, thus causing a high cost of animal production. Cost of feeding livestock accounts
for about 70% the cost of total cost of livestock production (Oluremi et al., 2008).A distinctive gap therefore
exists between the requirement and supplies of nutrient for livestock. Animal nutritionists in collaboration with
livestock producers have thus intensified research into less costly and readily available alternative feed materials
(Orayaga et al., 2016). The search for alternative feed ingredients continue to attract the attention of researchers
especially in the developing countries of the world for future hopes of feeding the animals and safeguarding
their food security will depend on the utilization of unconventional feed resources with less competition
between man and animals (Safwat et al., 2014).

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The neem leaf is one possible unconventional feedstuff for rabbits. Utilization of neem leaf meal ingredient as
alternative is not new but there are no established safe levels in diets (Esonu et al., 2006). Based on these
findings, unconventional feedstuffs such as plant leaves could play a vital role in alleviating these enormous
challenges of rabbit production thus reducing the cost of production. Neem leaf meal is non-conventional
feedstuff and could play a vital role in livestock production. Hence, it effect on the performance of growth
rabbits will be investigated in this study.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental site
The study was conducted at the Rabbit unit of the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm, Federal
University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State. Makurdi is located between latitude 7°44’N and Longitude 8°2
1 ‘E in the Guinea Savannah zone of West Africa. The location is characterized by two seasons; dry and wet
season. Annual rainfall ranges from 508mm to 1016mm.The area is warm with minimum and maximum
temperature of 24°C and 36°C - respectively. The relative humidity is between 39.50+2.20 and 64.00±4.80%
(TAC, 2009).
Source and Preparation of Neem Leaf Meal
Neem leaves were harvested from Akwanga Local Government Area in Nasarawa State. The leaves
were sun dried to about 8% moisture, milled and stored to the time it was used. Other ingredients were obtained
from the market in Makurdi, Benue State.
Experimental Diets
Five iso-nitrgenous and iso-caloric diets were formulated. Diet one which was the control had no NLM
while the other diets had NLM at 5, 10, l5and 20% levels and were designated Dl, D2, D3, D4 and D5
respectively, (Table 1).
Chemical analysis
Proximate and amino acid profile of the test ingredient were determined according to the procedure described by
(A.O.A.C, 2005).
Experimental Animals, Design and Management
Thirty (30) healthy weaner rabbits comprising of mixed sex and breed were purchased around Makurdi
from small holder rabbit farmers and use for the feeding trial. The rabbits were randomly allocated to five
treatment diets balancing for weight. Each treatment contained six rabbits with each making a replicate. Prior to
the commencement of the feeding trial, the animals were allowed one-week (7days) acclimatization period. Data
collection lasted for a period of 84 days during which feed and water were served ad libitum.
Table 1: Composition of experimental diets containing graded levels of neem leaf meal
Ingredients T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
Maize 36.00 33.00 32.05 30.55 28.00
Neem 0 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00
Maize offal 9.00 9.00 6.00 5.00 4.55
Rice offal 23.85 23.00 22.80 22.00 21.10
Blood meal 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.30 2.20
GNC 24.00 22.85 22.00 20.00 19.00
Bone ash 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00
Premix 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Lysine 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Methionine 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Table salt 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Palm Oil 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Total 100 100 100 100 100
Calculated Nutrients
Crude Protein 18.02 18.07 18.14 18.06 18.10
ME (Kcal/kg) 2609.34 2601.47 2601.47 2611.45 2608.75
Crude Fibre 12.25 12.22 12.19 12.10 12.02
Calcium 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50
Phosphorus 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.98
Either Extract 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.68 3.69
T1, T2, T3,T4, T5 = Treatment 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, ME = Metabolizable Energy, GNC = Ground nut cake

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Data Collection
Growth parameters (daily feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein intake and
protein efficiency ratio) were determined by calculation as follow:
a. Daily feed intake; DFI = DFI
84
ΣWF1ΣWF1
b. Feed conversion ratio (FCR): FCR = DFI(g)
DWG (g)
c. Daily weight gain (DWG) = TWG
84
d. Daily protein intake (DPI) = DFI x %CP in diet
100
e. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) = DWG
DP
Economic of production
The prevailing market price of ingredients used during the period of the study was used for the
economic appraisal of the feeds. The cost of the feed ingredients including services such as transportation and
processing was used to compute the true cost of the feeds per Kg used in the study.
i. Cost of diet (/kg) = Summation of market price of each ingredient multiplied by the proportion of the
ingredient in the diet.
ii. Feed cost (₦/kg weight gain) = Cost of diet(/kg) multiplied by feed conversion ratio
iii. Gross Margin was obtained as Mean market price of rabbits (Revenue) less Mean total cost of production
(costs of feed, milling, labour, drugs and chemicals, housing and equipment and transportation.
iv. Cost to benefit ratio was calculated as the ratio of cost to benefit.
Data Analysis
All data generated were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS (SAS, 2000) where
significant differences occurred, means were separated using Duncan New Multiple Range Test.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Chemical composition of neem leaf meal (NLM)
The proximate composition of neem leaf is presented in Table 2.This result showed that neem leaf meal
contain 96.04% DM, 23.96% CP, 14.69% Ether extract, 7.49% ash, 7.61% CF and 46.13% NFE. This was in
contradiction to 90.37% DM, 18.90% CP, 6.26% fat, 7.92% ash, 33.77% CF and 33.15% NFE reported by
Schofield et al. (2001). 93.89% DM, 18.16% CP, 3.53% fat, 13.07% ash, 11.33% CF and 53.91% NFE reported
by Otache and Agbajor, (2017), (18.01% CP, 2.50% fat, 5.62% ash, 15.56% CF and 58.22% NFP), (Schofield et
al. 2001), (85.70-87.90% DM, 1.22-4.04% CP, 2.89-3.18% fat, 3.88-4.03% ash, 9.09-10.86% CF for three
different cultivars) reported by Otache and Agbajor, (2017) and (33.5%DM, 16.6% CP, 3.7% fat, 12.0% ash,
and 16.8% CF) reported by Johnson and Morris (1996). These disparities could be as a result of different
processing methods, age of harvest, mode of collection, environmental and climatic conditions. But this
evidence also proved that neem leaf is of good nutritive value to rabbits when included in their diet.
Amino acid profile of neem leaf meal (NLM)
Amino acid profile of neem leaf meal is presented in Table 3. The result indicated that Methionine was
the least concentrated amino acid in neem leaf (0.02%) while glutamic acid was the highest (5.19%). This result
corresponds with the findings of Johnson and Morris, (1996) who reported a least concentration of methionine
and other essential amino acids in forages. Katsanda et al., (2018) observed a higher concentration of aspartic
acid and lower concentration of cysteine in mucuna, cowpea and silver leaf desmodium forages, this agrees with
this study as aspartic acid was the second highest in concentration and cysteine as one of the lower concentrated
amino acids in neem leaf used. None of these authors mentioned above reported a presence of norleucine (an
isomer of leucine) as observed in this study. NRC, (2001) consider lysine and methionine as the two essential
limiting amino acids and reports that most feedstuffs have low lysine and methionine concentrations, this was in
agreement with the observation on methionine in neem leaf used in this study. There were no found reports on
amino acids concentration of NLM at the time of this study, the concentration of amino acids found in NLM of
this study was compared to other leaf meals used in livestock feeding.
The amino acid profile of the test diets used in this study is presented in Table 3.

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Table 2: Proximate composition of test ingredient (neem leaf meal)
Parameters Value (%)
Dry Matter 96.04
Crude Protein 23.96
Crude Fibre 7.61
Ether extract 14.96
Ash 7.49
NFE 46.13
NFE = Nitrogen Free Extract
Table 3: Amino acid profile of neem leaf meal
Amino acids Conc. g/100g protein Conc. % Samples NLM
Luecine 8.23 1.89
Lysine 4.53 1.04
Isoleucine 3.99 0.92
Phenylalanine 3.19 0.73
Nor-leucine - -
Tryptophan 1.10 0.25
Valine 6.31 1.45
Methionine 0.11 0.02
Proline 3.65 0.84
Arginine 5.93 1.36
Tyrosine 1.38 0.35
Histidine 2.30 0.53
Cystine 2.54 0.58
Alanine 6.98 1.61
Glutamic acid 22.56 5.19
Glycine 7.93 1.82
Threonine 4.30 0.99
Serine 6.92 1.59
Aspartic acid 9.12 2.09.
-=Absent, NLM= Neem Leaf Meal, %=Percentage
Growth performance of rabbits fed graded levels of diets containing neem leaf meal (NLM)
The result of growth performance presented in Table 4revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences in
final weight and daily weight gain across the treatment groups. It was observed that rabbits in the control diet
had a relatively higher final body weight (1550.00 g),daily weight gain of 12.77 g. Daily feed intake, feed
conversion ratio, daily protein intake and protein efficiency ratio were similar (P>.0.05) across treatment
means. The final weights obtained in this study, though significantly different, did not follow a definite pattern.
These values were however higher than the findings of Unigwe et al., (2013) when graded levels of neem leaf
meal was fed to rabbits. Similarly, the daily weight gain reported in this study was higher than those reported by
(Unigwe et al., 2013). The average daily feed intake reported in this study was not significant (P > 0.05) across
treatment means. These values were lower than the values (80 – 90 g) reported by (Oluremi et al., 2008).
Similarities observed in feed intake suggest that all diets were palatable and thus acceptable by the rabbits as the
inclusion of neem leaf meal at varying levels did not depress feed consumption, this is in line with the report of
Ani and Adigegwu, (2005) who stated that the quantity of feed intake in rabbits is dependent to a large extent on
the palatability of the feed, and in the crude fibre content of the feed with an increasing effect on nutrient
availability and subsequently, the appetite thereby giving a higher feed intake. Feed conversion ratio of this
study (3.69 - 4.75) was better than the value reported by (Adekojo, 2014). The observation on daily protein
(7.41 – 8.73 g/d) intake per rabbit contradicts the value of (4.97 - 8.43 g) reported by Adekojo, (2014) who fed
weaned rabbits with graded levels of dried citrus pulp. Protein efficiency ratio observed in this study was
comparable to (0.54 - 1.46) reported by Adejumo, (2006) who fed rabbits with graded levels of cassava peels,
leucaena and gliricidia leaves based diets. Differences observed in this study with previous researchers could be
attributed to differences in experimental diets, procedure, age, sex, breed of animals and different test
ingredients used.

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Economics of production of rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of neem leaf meal (NLM)
Cost of feed consumed per rabbit decreased as the inclusion of the test ingredient increased, this was in line with
the findings of Ajayi et al., (2007) who fed diets containing graded levels of blood-wild sun flower leaf meal
mixture to weaner rabbits. Feed cost per kg weight gain was better off on rabbits fed T2 diets which was also
higher than the control diet (T1) but cost per kg weight gain did not reduce as the inclusion of the test ingredient
increases as reported by (Ajayi et al., 2007; and Iyeghe-Erakpotobor et al., 2006). The cost-benefit of feed per
rabbit was better in rabbits on T2, this include that rabbits fed 5 % inclusion of neem leaf meal in diet can be
raised at a cheaper cost, achieving profit.
Table 4: Growth performance of rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of neem leaf meal (NLM)
Parameters T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 SEM
Initial wt. (g) 477.00 471.20 475.00 478.00 478.30 14.23
Final wt. (g) 1550.00a
1323.00b
1315.50b
1533.00a
1320.50b
45.98
Daily wt. gain(g) 12.77a
10.14b
10.01b
12.56a
10.03b
0.46
F.C.R 3.88 4.75 4.21 3.69 4.58 0.18
Daily protein intake (g) 8.73 8.47 7.41 8.16 8.09 0.22
PER 0.74 0.86 0.69 0.66 0.78 0.03
ab
means on the same row with different superscript is significant, FCR = Feed Conversion Ratio, NFE =
Nitrogen Free Extract, PER = Protein Efficiency Ratio, T1 = 0% NLM (Control), T2 = 5% NLM, T3 = 10%
NLM, T4 = 15%, T5 = 20%
Table 5: Economics of production of rabbits fed diets containing graded levels of neem leaf (NLM)
Parameters T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
Cost of feed consumed/Rabbit(N) 559.68 534.20 492.58 456.28 472.85
Cost/Kg weight gain (N (kg) 486.28 617.62 489.18 445.37 479.03
Total cost of production (N) 1468.3 1429.5 1391.5 1369.4 1359.9
Revenue (N) 2546.8 2253.6 2912.8 3041.6 2927.6
Gross Margin (N) 1781.5 1224.2 1321.6 1672.1 1636.2
Benefit cost of feed/Rabbit 1.17 0.75 1.09 5.39 4.29
NLM=Neem Leaf meals
T1=0% NLN (Control), T2=5% NLM, T3=10% NLM, T4=15% NLM, T5=20% NLM
IV. Conclusion and Application
1. From this study, the proximate composition of the neem leaf meal (NLM) was adequate to meet nutrient
requirements of the rabbits, but also contains some anti-nutrients. The study reveals that neem leaves could
serve as a good source of nutritional supplement in the diet of rabbits.
2. Growth performance of rabbits was slightly affected with the inclusion of neem leaf meal up to 20%.
3. The coefficient of digestibility of the various nutrients are indication that the Nutrient available in neem leaf
meal (NLM) were available for growth and Maintenance.
4. The economic analysis revealed that inclusion of neem leaf meal (NLM) in the rabbit diets, resulted in higher
profit and lower cost of production.
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